Greece hands over seized Iranian oil cargo to US; Tehran protests

Greece handed over seized Iranian oil cargo on a Russian-flagged tanker to the United States.

The British maritime information company Lloyd's List reported that the United States dispatched the tanker Ice Energy to deliver a cargo of Iranian oil to Greece, and that the cargo was delivered to the country at the request of the US Department of Justice.

In this context, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday, June 24, the summoning of the charge d'affaires of the Greek Embassy in Tehran (in the absence of the ambassador) and announced that the strong protests of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran were conveyed to him.

The Russian tanker Lara (formerly known as Pegasus) was carrying 700,000 barrels of Iranian oil when it was seized in Greek waters on April 16 of this year.

Meanwhile, the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran on Wednesday called on the Greek government to immediately fulfill its international obligations.

The organization said that while the ship had taken refuge on the Greek coast to protect the safety of its personnel and oil cargo, the cargo was unloaded, which is "clear evidence of piracy."

The Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization further stated that "the Pegas ship encountered adverse weather conditions and had technical problems, and requested assistance in accordance with international law."
The Pegasus tanker, recently renamed "Lana," had reported that its engine needed repairs.

According to the Athens News Agency, the tanker was heading towards the southern Peloponnese peninsula to deliver its cargo to another tanker, but weather conditions forced it to anchor near Karistos, where it was seized.

Source: Radio Farda